Oceancare Ltd has invested in a new inflatable boom to contain oil spills, which can also be used in rough weather. The €100,000 Vikoma inflatable boom rises 40cm above the sea surface, making it ideal for use in choppy seas.

Captain Jesmond Mifsud said that the Malta Maritime Pilots Cooperative, through its subsidiary Oceancare, also invested €20,000 in training for its pilots to have the capacity to counter level 1 and level 2 oil spills.

Mifsud said the new boom can be deployed in 14 minutes, giving a quicker response time in case of emergency.

The boom was displayed at Malta Freeport on Wednesday morning in the presence of Transport Minister Ian Borg, and the Freeport’s top officials.